Everyone has that story of when the entire family fell out (even if only for an hour or two) over a silly game. It might have been your little ones arguing that their sibling had been cheating at the hyper-important “I Spy” game on a road trip. Perhaps the dreaded four-syllable word “monopoly” makes you stare off into space like a traumatised Vietnam veteran.
The truth is that games are not just games, they’re very fun, very engaging, and as such, very meaningful. They are just games of course, but try telling that to someone who might be tired of losing, or perhaps a little tense due to the playful trash talk coming their way.
The festive season is here, which means that it’s true certain games will be on the way, and you get to decide what those are. In this post, we’ll discuss some awesome ways you can avoid those dreaded arguments and disagreements that really aren’t so serious but can dull the mood a little.
Play Co-Operative Or Solo Games
Working together instead of against each other can make game time more enjoyable for everyone if you just know that a disagreement will come along. Some games like Pandemic or Forbidden Island put all players on the same team, fighting against the game itself which can give you a common cause of fun. It’s nice when victories are shared and losses don’t create sore feelings between family members.
Even solo games or online variant games like backgammon played as a group can be fun, like having a video game on your television. Take something like Wordle – everyone can try to solve the same puzzle, share thoughts and strategies without direct competition, and have fun if they get it. The joy comes from figuring things out together rather than trying to beat each other. Now we’re not saying your family or friend group is unable to complete without trauma, but this can be a nice break from it all.
Set Specific Rules
If you need to, set some rules before a game. You can do this jokingly if last year you found Monopoly caused a war – perhaps you’ll take five minutes before any game to agree on exactly how you’ll play. This is especially important for family favourites where different households might play with different house rules. Write down any special rules if needed, such as only being able to speak if it’s your turn.
Small things matter too – like whether consulting your phone during trivia counts as cheating or if trading properties is allowed in Monopoly. This doesn’t mean you have to be ultra-pedantic and get the rulebook out for every decision, but getting everyone on the same page at the start saves headaches later.
Run A Tournament Where Everyone Can Play
Tournaments give everyone multiple chances to play and win because instead of one big game where someone might get knocked out early, you could create a simple bracket system where people play several short games. This keeps everyone involved and having fun throughout the evening, taking time to relax and take it easy for the most part.
Mix up the games too if you can, as maybe some require luck, others skill, and others creativity. For instance, you might have a round of a board game and then mode onto charades and then onto a card game as the final. This way, different family members can shine at different moments or you can enjoy a triathlon style of play, which this is similar to. How you organize this is up to you, but it can certainly help people avoid feeling left out.
Set Up Teams
Team games spread both the glory and the blame and you’re unlikely to have a four versus four war in the middle of your living room when playing something. That’s because when you win or lose as a group, it takes the pressure off individuals. After a little while, switching up teams between games means everyone gets to play with different family members throughout the day.
Teams also help balance out skill levels, so if someone is absolutely dynamite at general trivia, you can match them together. We’d recommend taking time to pair up stronger and newer players or mix generations so grandparents can team up with grandkids. That’ll help with natural mentoring moments and keep games from becoming too one-sided.
Consider Trivia Games
Trivia games work well because they tap into different kinds of knowledge and no one can really know everything or have the basic skillset that works for everything. Grandpa might know all about history, while the teenagers will generally be great at the pop culture questions. This natural balance keeps things interesting and gives everyone a chance to feel like they’ve aced it. Moreover, there are quite a few excellent trivia games online so you can always play an interactive one or act as host yourself.
Of course, this is customized to your needs, so you can skip categories that might frustrate certain players. Just remember to keep the spirit light – it’s about learning fun facts together, not proving who knows more or who is the most learned.
Put The Games Away When A Little Tipsy
Festivities and alcohol are a comfortable match for many, but games and alcohol don’t always mix well. When the wine or champagne starts flowing, it might be time to switch to simpler activities or just enjoy the conversation. Nobody wants to remember the holiday as the time Uncle Steve flipped the Scrabble board after one too many eggnogs or whiskeys. It’s a fun story of course but doesn’t really feel that great to go with.
Joke About The Tension If There Is Any
There’s no reason why a family has to think they’re walking on eggshells during a game. Light humour and gentle teasing can help you reduce those tense moments before they become real problems. If someone starts taking things too seriously, a gentle joke about getting too competitive can help everyone remember it’s just a game (and perhaps what happened last time). Keep the tone playful rather than mocking.
Sometimes simply acknowledging the ridiculousness of getting worked up over a board game is enough to break the tension and get everyone laughing again, and if someone breaks that tension it helps everyone realize just how silly hostilities are.
Take Your Time
Rushing through games often leads to mistakes and frustration, so set aside proper time to enjoy each game fully. This means starting earlier in the evening, not trying to squeeze in “one quick game” when everyone’s already overtired and wants to go to bed, for example. In many games, virtual or physical, you can always pause them and go to bed, then resume the next day if you want to.
Taking breaks between the actual gaming sessions helps too. Use this time to grab snacks, stretch your legs, or just chat. These natural pauses keep the gaming session from becoming too intense and you can always just have the gentle game going throughout the festivities.
Play Hilarious Time-Limited Games
If a game is timed, no one has the bandwidth to become annoyed. Quick, silly games can be perfect tension breakers in that light. For example, games like Pictionary or Charades with a timer are hard not to laugh at, especially when someone’s frantically trying to draw a giraffe in 30 seconds. This way it’s hard for anyone to stay too serious.
With this advice, we hope you can enjoy the best possible board and video game arguments this festive season!
